Method of frustrated total reflection in spectroscopy of surface polaritons in almost perfectly conducting metals

The standard technique for surface polaritons excitation by a prism coupling in Otto configuration is applied for investigation of almost perfectly conducting (pec) metals like tantalum irradiated by a collimated He-Ne laser radiation (λ ₀ = 632.8 nm). In pec metals the imaginary part of the relative dielectric permittivity (ɛ″) is quite larger than the modulus of the real part of the same quantity (ɛ′ < 0, ɛ″ ≫ | ɛ′ |). Under this condition the single Lorentz dip of the reflectivity coefficient is proven to exist and is given in an analytical form, which follows from simplification of the usual multilayer Fresnel formula. In the case of a deterministically curved metal surface an approximate solution to the reduced Rayleigh integral equation appropriate for the Otto configuration is also given. These two theoretical deductions are compared with experimental data that have been produced by us for the reflectivity into the prism region from a bulk tantalum sample.     

Multilayer coaxial fiber dielectric elastomers for actuation and sensing

A simple dip-coating technique was employed to manufacture coaxial actuators with multiple layers of alternating dielectric and conducting layers. A thin rubber string was coated with an electrode–insulator–electrode structure, giving rise to a thin, fiber-like actuator with coaxial geometry. The process was repeated to achieve a compact multilayer actuator with up to three coaxial dielectric layers. Mechanical and electromechanical characterization of the actuators is presented, showing actuation strains up to 8% and proper voltage–thickness scaling behavior. Also presented is a capacitance vs. extension plot, demonstrating that these structures can be used for compact and accurate capacitive strain sensing.     

Role of surfactants on the approaching velocity of two small emulsion drops

Here we present the exact solution of two approaching spherical droplets problem, at small Reynolds and Peclet numbers, taking into account surface shear and dilatational viscosities, Gibbs elasticity, surface and bulk diffusivities due to the presence of surfactant in both disperse and continuous phases. For large interparticle distances, the drag force coefficient, f, increases only about 50% from fully mobile to tangentially immobile interfaces, while at small distances, f can differ several orders of magnitude. There is significant influence of the degree of surface coverage, θ, on hydrodynamic resistance β for insoluble surfactant monolayers. When the surfactant is soluble only in the continuous phase the bulk diffusion suppresses the Marangoni effect only for very low values of θ, while in reverse situation, the bulk diffusion from the drop phase is more efficient and the hydrodynamic resistance is lower. Surfactants with low value of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) make the interfaces tangentially immobile, while large CMC surfactants cannot suppress interfacial mobility, which lowers the hydrodynamic resistance between drops. For micron-sized droplets the interfacial viscosities practically block the surface mobility and they approach each other as solid spheres with high values of the drag coefficient.     

The correspondence of detachment characteristics and acid-base interaction measures

A quantitative estimate for the intensity of interphase acid-base interactions is proposed based on the acid and base parameters of the free surface energy of polymer adhesives and substrates of a different nature. An interaction between acid-base and strength characteristics of adhesive compounds is established. An increase in the adhesive strength with an increase in the difference between the surface acid and base properties of connected materials is revealed for a number of compounds (polyolefine-metal, rubber mixtures-brass, and Thiokol compounds-glass).     

Electrical and electroluminescent properties of InAsSb-Based LEDs (λ = 3.85–3.95 μm) in the temperature interval 20–200°C

The temperature dependences of the electrical and electroluminescent properties of InAsSbP/InAsSb/InAsSbP heterostructure LEDs (λ ≈ 3.8−4.0 μm) are studied in the temperature interval 20–200°C. It is shown that the radiation power decreases with increasing temperature in a superexponential manner and that this decrease is associated primarily with a rise in the rate of Auger recombination. The position of the maximum in the radiation spectrum varies with temperature nonmonotonically, since radiative recombination is observed both in the active region and in the wide-gap layer. At room temperature, current through the heterostructure is tunneling current irrespective of the applied voltage polarity. As the temperature rises, either the thermal emission of charge carriers appears (direct bias) or the diffusion current becomes significant (reverse bias).     

Tape polymer materials for anti-corrosion insulation of pipelines

The article discusses peculiar features of polymer tape coatings for protecting pipelines and main methods of applying them in a field environment. It is shown that the design of polymer tape coating depends on operational conditions, the conditions of the coating application, and the method of pipeline construction. The main Russian and Western insulating materials are reviewed and some of the technical characteristics of these materials are presented.     

Influence of colloidal structure of polymer mixes on adhesion strength of polyolefin compositions

Mixtures of low-density polyethylene and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer are studied. It is shown that the adhesion value is defined by the polymer that forms a dispersion medium in the adhesive compositions and the type of fracture depends on the competing influence of the physical and mechanical parameters and the reduced acidity parameter of the polymer, which forms a continuous phase.     

Fundamental properties of isoelectric buffers for capillary zone electrophoresis

Different isoelectric buffers are analysed theoretically, taking into account a fundamental parameter, i.e., the ratio between intrinsic buffering power and conductivity (R=β/λ). For a model ampholyte, the above parameter is analysed both as a function of the pI and the pK_b–pK_a values. For natural pH gradients, the variation of R, connected with approaching the isoelectric point, is evaluated. A case of oligo-protic ampholytes is also considered.